HARTFORD, Conn. — Azzi Fudd showcased an impressive performance, scoring 18 of her total 23 points in the first half as the No. 7 ranked UConn seized a decisive 81-27 victory over Xavier on Wednesday evening.
Sarah Strong also contributed significantly with a total of 15 points, all recorded in the opening half, along with seven rebounds and five steals for UConn (14-2, 5-0 in the Big East). The team was without their top scorer, Paige Bueckers, who sustained a knee injury in the previous game against Villanova. While there is currently no set timeline for Bueckers’ return, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma expressed hope that she may be able to play next week.
In addition, Allie Ziebell scored 15 out of her overall 17 points in the second half of the contest. On the other side, Irune Orio led the way for Xavier (5-10, 0-4) with 10 points.
Xavier faced significant difficulties during the match, failing to reach their 10th point until just 26 seconds remained in the first half, leaving them trailing at an overwhelming 43-10 at that juncture. This defeat marked Xavier’s 45th consecutive loss in the Big East, highlighting their struggles further as they fell to 0-9 against UConn. In their eight meetings in the Big East, they have lost by margins of 36 points or more on seven occasions.
Key Takeaway: For UConn, Fudd reached a season-high point total in this game, marking the first match without Bueckers. Her prior season-high was 18 points, achieved in victories over ranked teams Ole Miss and Louisville.
A pivotal moment in the game came when UConn, already leading by nine points, executed a remarkable 15-0 run, with Strong scoring eight points and Fudd contributing five, extending their lead to 30-6.
An important statistic from the game revealed that UConn outperformed Xavier 36-4 in points derived from turnovers in the first three quarters. Remarkably, the Huskies registered more steals in the first half than Xavier had points.
Looking ahead, Xavier will host St. John’s on Saturday, while UConn is scheduled to play at Georgetown on the same day.
